Toddlers on Antipsychotics

Probably the first case that comes to mind is the death of year old Rebecca Riley who was on large doses of psychotropic medications. She was diagnosed as being bipolar and ADHD at the age of two. However, her case is not necessarily an isolated one. Lots of children are being diagnosed with serious mental illnesses.at younger and younger ages.
So, my question is, how can anyone determine a toddler is bipolar or ADHD? Is it responsible of doctors to dole out these diagnosis at such a young age? What toddler doesn't have mood swings and a lack of focus? The medications used aren't usually even FDA approved for young children, and can cause severe physical health problems.

Probably the first case that comes to mind is the death of year old Rebecca Riley who was on large doses of psychotropic medications. She was diagnosed as being bipolar and ADHD at the age of two. However, her case is not necessarily an isolated one. Lots of children are being diagnosed with serious mental illnesses.at younger and younger ages.
So, my question is, how can anyone determine a toddler is bipolar or ADHD? Is it responsible of doctors to dole out these diagnosis at such a young age? What toddler doesn't have mood swings and a lack of focus? The medications used aren't usually even FDA approved for young children, and can cause severe physical health problems.

I do not see how any mental illness can legitimately be determined at such a young age. My dd has intense mood swings, talks to herself and other imaginary friends etc. and arent all young children lacking in the attention span department? I couldn't imagine taking her to a psychiatrist or allowing her to take medication at such a young age. I wonder if some cases can be seen as munchousin by proxy (sp?) and really be cases of parents looking for attention.

I do not see how any mental illness can legitimately be determined at such a young age. My dd has intense mood swings, talks to herself and other imaginary friends etc. and arent all young children lacking in the attention span department? I couldn't imagine taking her to a psychiatrist or allowing her to take medication at such a young age. I wonder if some cases can be seen as munchousin by proxy (sp?) and really be cases of parents looking for attention.

Exactly! I worry about the prescribing practices of the doctors who would give risperdil or depakote to a toddler. If a child is displaying severe emotional issues, all types of alternative treatments including psychotherapy and family therapy should be done before medications are even considered. I was reading that the number of 2-5 year olds who have been prescribed an antipsychotic has doubled in recent years.

Exactly! I worry about the prescribing practices of the doctors who would give risperdil or depakote to a toddler. If a child is displaying severe emotional issues, all types of alternative treatments including psychotherapy and family therapy should be done before medications are even considered. I was reading that the number of 2-5 year olds who have been prescribed an antipsychotic has doubled in recent years.

ore Toddlers, Young Children Given Antipsychotics Researchers question the 'worrisome' trend
By Jennifer Thomas HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- The rate of children aged 2 to 5 who are given antipsychotic medications has doubled in recent years, a new study has found.
Yet little is known about either the effectiveness or the safety of these powerful psychiatric medications in children this age, said researchers from Columbia University and Rutgers University, who looked at data on more than 1 million children with private health insurance.
"It is a worrisome trend, partly because very little is known about the short-term, let alone the long-term, safety of these drugs in this age group," said study author Dr. Mark Olfson, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University in New York City.
Prescribing antipsychotics to children in the upper range of that age span -- ages 4 and 5 -- is justifiable only in rare, intractable situations in which all other treatments, including family and psychological therapy, have been tried and are not working, Olfson said.
And it's questionable whether 2- and 3-year-olds should ever be prescribed antipsychotics, Olfson said.
The study is published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Presumably, only children with the most severe mental problems would be given the potent drugs. Yet, less than half of children on antipsychotics had received any mental health services, including a mental health assessment or treatment from a psychotherapist or psychiatrist, the study author noted.

ore Toddlers, Young Children Given Antipsychotics Researchers question the 'worrisome' trend
By Jennifer Thomas HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- The rate of children aged 2 to 5 who are given antipsychotic medications has doubled in recent years, a new study has found.
Yet little is known about either the effectiveness or the safety of these powerful psychiatric medications in children this age, said researchers from Columbia University and Rutgers University, who looked at data on more than 1 million children with private health insurance.
"It is a worrisome trend, partly because very little is known about the short-term, let alone the long-term, safety of these drugs in this age group," said study author Dr. Mark Olfson, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University in New York City.
Prescribing antipsychotics to children in the upper range of that age span -- ages 4 and 5 -- is justifiable only in rare, intractable situations in which all other treatments, including family and psychological therapy, have been tried and are not working, Olfson said.
And it's questionable whether 2- and 3-year-olds should ever be prescribed antipsychotics, Olfson said.
The study is published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Presumably, only children with the most severe mental problems would be given the potent drugs. Yet, less than half of children on antipsychotics had received any mental health services, including a mental health assessment or treatment from a psychotherapist or psychiatrist, the study author noted.

It's a terrible, terrible idea and I don't believe ADHD can or should be diagnosed that young. My younger brother (will be 18 in a couple weeks) was put on a medication at 8 for ADHD that caused so many problems. He turned violent and started doing things like running away. At age 8. He was put in a children's mental health facility for a few days after threatening to kill himself. He was a bubbly happy kid before. A few years later the medication he was on was deemed not safe for children under 18 and then completely removed from the market. He still suffers from that medication. He's emotionally behind for kids his age, struggles with depression and some health complications as a direct result of the medication. His doctor to this day denies he ever put him on the medication though. It might be an extreme case, but it does happen. I couldn't imagine putting a young child on medications other than for legitimate health reasons.

It's a terrible, terrible idea and I don't believe ADHD can or should be diagnosed that young. My younger brother (will be 18 in a couple weeks) was put on a medication at 8 for ADHD that caused so many problems. He turned violent and started doing things like running away. At age 8. He was put in a children's mental health facility for a few days after threatening to kill himself. He was a bubbly happy kid before. A few years later the medication he was on was deemed not safe for children under 18 and then completely removed from the market. He still suffers from that medication. He's emotionally behind for kids his age, struggles with depression and some health complications as a direct result of the medication. His doctor to this day denies he ever put him on the medication though. It might be an extreme case, but it does happen. I couldn't imagine putting a young child on medications other than for legitimate health reasons.

That's awful. I'm currently reading a book called Anatomy of an Epidemic. It attempts to analyze why the number of people on disability for mental illness has skyrocketed, when treatment is supposed to be so advanced.

That's awful. I'm currently reading a book called Anatomy of an Epidemic. It attempts to analyze why the number of people on disability for mental illness has skyrocketed, when treatment is supposed to be so advanced.

Very scary and sad. I question what parent would have their 2 year old screened for a mental disorder like that? ADHD? How can that be diagnosed at 2? I really, really question the parents motivation behind this. And no doctor worth the paper their diploma is printed on should be handing out meds like this to children. We watched a documentary about this topic in my pharmacology class and it broke my heart. In one case the son was on all kinds of meds, and they were starting the other siblings on ADHD meds also. The mom went to their doctor asking him to UP her son's meds. I couldn't believe it because everything she described was normal 5 year old behavior.

Very scary and sad. I question what parent would have their 2 year old screened for a mental disorder like that? ADHD? How can that be diagnosed at 2? I really, really question the parents motivation behind this. And no doctor worth the paper their diploma is printed on should be handing out meds like this to children. We watched a documentary about this topic in my pharmacology class and it broke my heart. In one case the son was on all kinds of meds, and they were starting the other siblings on ADHD meds also. The mom went to their doctor asking him to UP her son's meds. I couldn't believe it because everything she described was normal 5 year old behavior.

In the rare case that some are real issues, I think most parents don't want to mess with teaching the their child ways to behave and goad the doctor into giving them a prescription so the child will be a zombie. We are going through this with my ex SIL. She recently had a new baby and now suddenly she thinks my niece is add/ADHD and needs medicine. Makes me sick for my niece. I hope the doc sees through the ruse and doesn't give her what she wants. She's die if she ever had to watch my kids. I consider them normal kids and I know ADD runs in my husband side of the family.

In the rare case that some are real issues, I think most parents don't want to mess with teaching the their child ways to behave and goad the doctor into giving them a prescription so the child will be a zombie. We are going through this with my ex SIL. She recently had a new baby and now suddenly she thinks my niece is add/ADHD and needs medicine. Makes me sick for my niece. I hope the doc sees through the ruse and doesn't give her what she wants. She's die if she ever had to watch my kids. I consider them normal kids and I know ADD runs in my husband side of the family.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder at 17. It was a miss diagnoses. That being said, I was at the lowest of lows. I can't imagine ever feeling that way again. It was such a horrible time, and I am not even Bi Polar. I would think that any parent with a child that severely depressed would know it. Bipolar disorder is serious and should not be lumped with ADHD over diagnoses.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder at 17. It was a miss diagnoses. That being said, I was at the lowest of lows. I can't imagine ever feeling that way again. It was such a horrible time, and I am not even Bi Polar. I would think that any parent with a child that severely depressed would know it. Bipolar disorder is serious and should not be lumped with ADHD over diagnoses.

My niece is almost 5, and has been in counseling for almost a year. My sister was using cocaine while she was pregnant, and the baby started to show signs of emotional problems very early. That being said, her counselor will not recommend medications until she has been in school for a full year.

My niece is almost 5, and has been in counseling for almost a year. My sister was using cocaine while she was pregnant, and the baby started to show signs of emotional problems very early. That being said, her counselor will not recommend medications until she has been in school for a full year.

I want to add that those with bi polar disorder do not have mood swings. They have sever highs and lows. There are no OK days. It is not the same as a toddler being happy one moment and taking a tantrum the next for no reason at all. These people have days, weeks, sometimes even months (unless a rapid cycle) where they are depressed or manic. Its not the same.

I want to add that those with bi polar disorder do not have mood swings. They have sever highs and lows. There are no OK days. It is not the same as a toddler being happy one moment and taking a tantrum the next for no reason at all. These people have days, weeks, sometimes even months (unless a rapid cycle) where they are depressed or manic. Its not the same.

I have a close family member who was diagnosed as bipolar among other things at three; he's been on antipsychotics since then. You can totally tell he's bipolar. He needs the meds to function and not kill his family members. And I'm only slightly exaggerating on that last part.

I have a close family member who was diagnosed as bipolar among other things at three; he's been on antipsychotics since then. You can totally tell he's bipolar. He needs the meds to function and not kill his family members. And I'm only slightly exaggerating on that last part.

Rebecca Riley lived in the same town as my parents so it got quite a but of press around here. Apparently parents can get disability income from each child with a diagnosis. Desperate families have a lot to gain by pushing a doc to diagnose really young kids.

Rebecca Riley lived in the same town as my parents so it got quite a but of press around here. Apparently parents can get disability income from each child with a diagnosis. Desperate families have a lot to gain by pushing a doc to diagnose really young kids.

Like I said, its not the same as typical toddler behavior. A bi polar person when depressed wont even get out of bed. When manic they might rob a bank, jump out a window. A toddler with bi polar might stay in their room all day. When manic I don't know, climb the kitchen cabinets and break moms dishes.

Like I said, its not the same as typical toddler behavior. A bi polar person when depressed wont even get out of bed. When manic they might rob a bank, jump out a window. A toddler with bi polar might stay in their room all day. When manic I don't know, climb the kitchen cabinets and break moms dishes.

I will add, keep having after thoughts today haha, its like anything else a young child is diagnosed with. A child that can't voice their feelings physical or emotional. Its about the parents. It is what they notice and report to doctors. It was like that with my daughter when she was diagnosed with acid reflux. She was an infant. The doctor went with what I reported. Yet my ped is still the one with the degree to know the difference between normal infant behaviour and abnormal.

My mother exaggerated a everything I did as a teen because she didn't want to take the blame. That is why I believe my Psychologist that spent 15 mins with me a week diagnosed me this way, while my therapist that saw me 2 days a week refused to treat me for it.

I will add, keep having after thoughts today haha, its like anything else a young child is diagnosed with. A child that can't voice their feelings physical or emotional. Its about the parents. It is what they notice and report to doctors. It was like that with my daughter when she was diagnosed with acid reflux. She was an infant. The doctor went with what I reported. Yet my ped is still the one with the degree to know the difference between normal infant behaviour and abnormal.

My mother exaggerated a everything I did as a teen because she didn't want to take the blame. That is why I believe my Psychologist that spent 15 mins with me a week diagnosed me this way, while my therapist that saw me 2 days a week refused to treat me for it.

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